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Rep. Speier wants new office to investigate military sexual assaults

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is introducing a bill Thursday
that would create a new office for investigating and prosecuting sexual
assaults in the military.

Speier’s legislation would remove sexual assault crimes from
the normal military chain of command and place them in the hands of an autonomous
Sexual Assault Oversight and Response Office within the Defense Department. The
office, which would be made up of both military and civilian experts, would
work with military investigators and oversee the prosecution of sexual assault
cases.

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“For too long the military’s response to rape victims has
been: ‘Take an aspirin and go to bed,’” Speier said in a news release announcing
the bill.

Speier’s bill would have the Defense Department create a sex
offender database that would become part of the Department of Justice’s sex
offender registry.

Speier has made numerous floor speeches on military sexual
assault over the past three years, and has said she will “continue to share
these stories until something changes.”